What to Do If You’re Being Catfished: Step-by-Step Guide

By David McClellan, March 5, 2019

You’ve been talking to someone online, and you start getting suspicions and you’re getting some signs that you might be catfished.

The person that you’re talking to has an extravagant life. They travel a lot, have a great job and are great looking but, all of a sudden, something dramatic happens, and they either need money, won’t talk you to on Skype or plans to meet always seem to fall through. These are typically signs that you’re being catfished online.

If this is you, you might be getting catfished. Catfishing is a scheme where someone acts like someone else to dupe or scam someone online. It usually involves love, and the motives of the person doing the catfishing are always selfish. If this seems like you, here are some things that you can do to avoid getting ripped off, scammed or embarrassed by friends and family because you fell for a scam.

Step #1: First Verify If You’re Being Catfished

Don’t jump the gun before you know. You don’t want to end a possible good relationship but, you don’t want to ignore the signs either. If you’ve already verified that you’ve been catfished, move to step 2.

If you’re still not sure, make sure you use a service like ours or hire one of our Search Specialists. You can find more information here on our different plans, and we have a 100% money back guarantee if we can’t help you verify someone’s identity.

Step#2: Remove All Information & Don’t Give Them Money

You want to make sure that you don’t send them any information or incriminating pictures. Make sure you block them from your social accounts and change your settings to ensure privacy.

Also, make sure you don’t send anyone money. There are many scams where people coerce others into falling for them emotionally so; they’ll feel obligated to help them out when they claim to need it.

If you’ve given them money:

Don’t stop contact with them right away. Call the police first. They will file a report. We’ve had people who have been able to get back some of their money and the police have been able to track scammers down (this doesn’t often happen, though).

Step #3: Report Catfish to the Police

If someone is trying to take money from you and attempting to commit cyber fraud, it’s most likely a good idea to report it to the appropriate law enforcement agency and also the site where this took place (e.g., a dating site, social networking site or forum). Here are the following areas that you can report cyber crimes, impersonation and online fraud:

You can contact the Internet Crime Complaint Center here to report fraud or cyber crimes. They work with the FBI and will investigate the fraud.
For Facebook, you can contact report a fake account here, or online scams, phishing here.
For Twitter, you can report an account for impersonation here and online fraud here.
For dating sites and forums, you can usually find a ‘report’ button on the person’s profile page. These types of sites should have a reporting section but, they don’t so, you’ll have to look around. (eg. like this page on POF.com)
If you’ve already given them money and haven’t severed ties, contact the police immediately. The cops will instruct you on what the next best steps are.

Step #4. Be Cautious in the Future

In the future, make sure you’re cautious about accepting invites and personal messages from people you don’t know. Those typically aren’t legitimate.

Also, don’t give out personal information, make sure you involve friends or family when meeting up with someone you’ve met online. Make sure you keep your guard up until you’re able to verify someone’s identity. Most of the time this can be done through a reverse lookup.

Now that you have everything you need to combat online scammers, you can go out there and meet people safely. Do you have any more tips for us? Leave a comment below.

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18 Comments

Dennis Biggans04 July, 2014 a 13:41 pm

I have been online with this girl from Nigeria for over a month now,sounds like catfishin’ to me said she loves me she says she was born here & her parents died here in a car accident when she was 13 then went to live with her grandmother over there. Is there a way to check her out? She’s 29 & I’m 62 my wife passed away exactly 5 months ago today her e-mail is porchjoyce10@gmail.com is there any way to check her out on some web site?? I would like to find out more

Stacey W.08 August, 2014 a 20:23 pm

I was playing tekken online today and out of no where this “girl” sent me a message with her number and said text her sometime. I sent a couple messages to “her” on the PlayStation and she said she was 18, 5’4″, black, and plays basketball because I did anyway a few messages in I said I would do something for her and she said **** ****. I knew after that she wasn’t real so I had my friend call her but no answer then he texted her and she instantly responded by saying she can’t call anyone. If you can’t call anyone how did you know I called before I texted?

lisa w10 September, 2014 a 05:12 am

I was catfished on internationalcupid.com by a man who made a quote regarding love that sounded poetic from a book so I cut and pasted the quote and up popped up scam scam scam. I feel horrible that someones family pictures were hyjacked. Google the persons name and city trust me they will have something come up if they exist.

julian14 September, 2014 a 10:41 am

I want to know if I’m being cat fished please contact me as soon as possible… thank you -julian

Linda22 September, 2014 a 00:43 am

I am talking to 2 men that I met on a website called Badoo……both are deployed one is in the Air Force and the other is in the Army……they have both sent me pictures and both talk to me on messenger……they both have a facebook page with one picture only and maybe one friend on there. I can’t find either one on a google search. Of course I am very suspicious. However when I told them that I wasn’t sure if they were real they both got angry. One was divorced because his wife cheated one his wife died in a car wreck……one of them sent me a picture of his military ID with picture………but I still can’t find them anywhere. I even paid ten bucks to do a search by their e mail address to see if I could find at least an address from where they say they are from……can’t find anything……..of course both are saying they love me. Can you help me please. I would appreciate it sooo much. Especially if one of them is using a military ID that is fake. It looks real to me but what do I know.

Mckayla26 September, 2014 a 00:56 am

Hey I need help I think my friend is catfishing me (and possibly herself-i know it sounds crazy) but I need help! What do I do?

Luis18 July, 2015 a 03:13 am

I think I might be being catfished. Two times and one time I didn’t even know about we have *tried to meet* the first time, a surprise of hers- she apparently got in a wreck, came out ok, and got an new car in place of it which she showed me a picture of the car. The second time, she drove to my house and apparently ended up in New Jersey when we both apparently live in New York. The third time, she just didn’t show and said was gonna and Idk if something has gone wrong or not. On top of that, when we met she was breaking up with her boyfriend, who apparently was treating her wrong and not stopping when she said no, then they broke up and he fake committed a suicide – which only I know about not her or her best friend who (the ex does to) messages me about things etc. And on top of that: she has one parent in jail apparently and the other one passes away before helping her obtain a scholarship to Julliard. ANYWAYS- I don’t want to believe it’s a catfish because of how elaborately detailed everything is, she’s sent me 5 pictures of herself and they all look like the same person and under reverse image search on google no results of that particular image appear. I don’t know what to do, can someone help? and her email has a picture of a different girl, i asked her and she just never changed it because her and her friend used the same email and then her friend stopped so she apparently continued

carolcelestine17@Yahoo.com29 July, 2015 a 04:47 am

There is a scammer going by the name of Solomon Kodjo Cupples who says he is special forces in the army. At first seems legit because he has several pictures some in uniform all candid. Some of his dog and his daughter. Even a video of his daughter. He quickly falls in love with you writing of his feelings. Check the scam sites. This emails has been used many times. Sounds good though. Tells you all these wonderful things. Then he is suddenly in Ghana on family business where he has received gold as the last relative. He wants to transfer the money into your account. He cannot provide you any verifiable information. There is nothing on him on the web. No public records. Nor for any family member. He didn’t know what a CAC card was which all military always carry. I have reported him to Internet Crime Complaint Center even though he got nothing from me. I’m hoping to prevent this from happening to others.

Michele05 August, 2015 a 03:49 am

I was catfished by a man calling himself Nicky, on POF, then communicated on kik. Got suspicious when plans fell through twice. Lightbulb went off and I decided to do a search image on Google, turns out the pictures he was sending me were from a Brazilian model and or actor named Lucas Malvacini. Feeling like an idiot, but oh so glad I didn’t fall for anything (ok, I might have sent him a headless boob pic, lol).

Johnny Torres06 December, 2015 a 11:55 am

I am having this crazy feeling I’m getting catfished this girl seems to good to be true please help me!!!

Darlene Sorel08 December, 2015 a 05:26 am

Almost certain I’m being catfished.

Tammie Crews29 December, 2015 a 02:26 am

I’m being catfishes by a guy using a Military mans pictures please help me get a hold of the real guy!!Galbraith Chris Morgan is the name on FB I no Galbraith is the real name its on his shirt please help me catch him!!!He loves me wants to get married :/

Jane04 January, 2016 a 12:47 pm

Amazing emotional tricks..just before asking for money..to be sent to someone else beautiful poetic words sent..many pictures of person and child from oregon.. address in oregon valid..sister involvef? Three different phones..person does call and speak..final outcome car accident send money!

Marcia Perryman02 February, 2016 a 13:55 pm

My daughter Olivia Rose Perryman 14 died by suicide January 28 2016 A major contributor was that she was being CATFISHED! The local law enforcement did not know how to handle this…Olivia had many crosses she bared…

Phyl16 February, 2016 a 23:22 pm

I think I’m being catfished why do catfish use the use military staff that should be against the law a federal offense please help me

Rhonda Mayhall24 February, 2016 a 21:59 pm

Not sure if I have been catfished by a man claiming to be in the Army U.S. Special Forces. He has a uniform with his name on it. His name is Curtis Malik. Please can you help me. Thank you

I believe I am being catfished and have already sent money! The thing is I have been very careful about checking credentials which seem to check out. Please help.08 March, 2016 a 05:51 am

If I am being tricked this is a very elaborate plan. Been going on over 8 months. Credentials check out but am still not sure. I would appreciate further advice or assistance.

Tracy10 March, 2016 a 07:37 am

All the same stories, divorced with a kid, mother cheated and ran off. Kid needs money and he is an engineer on a ship… of course cant do a thing. When you cant help you get abused, but so long as you playing their game, they are so full of love. FB account has few friends and no updates and only 1 pic..